Chapter 2

Habang naghihintay kay Elisha, naupo ako sa balcony at hinayaang dumampi ang sikat ng araw sa aking balat.

For three years, I had devoted myself to building my company, barely noticing how much the world had changed around me.

Funny how life worked. I spent years adapting to change, never realizing the biggest change in my life came from that one familiar face who found their way back into my life a month ago…without warning, without mercy.

Pinili kong iwan ang nakaraan, pati na ang mga tanong tungkol sa kanya. Matagal ko na ring tinanggap na parte na lang siya ng lumang pahina ng aking buhay.

But seeing him again had changed something.

Now, I found myself wondering about the years I had missed, the life he had lived without me, and the man he had become while we were apart.

I found myself opening a new tab on my phone and typed his name. My fingers trembled with every letter. 

The search results loaded, and my breath caught.

Photos. Headlines. Awards. A version of him the world seemed to know so well. He was no longer just the man I once knew. He was now a renowned architect, a billionaire, and one of the most celebrated names in his industry.

Nakatitig ako sa larawan niya. He looked polished, untouchable, and enigmatic. 

Bigla kong dinama ang aking tiyan. Kung naging maayos lang sana ang lahat, I would have loved to sit beside our child someday, point at his picture, and say, “That’s your father. He built that.”

Sa halip, nanatiling nakabara ang mga salitang iyon sa dibdib ko.

“B, let’s go!”

Napabalik ako sa kasalukuyan nang marinig ang pagtawag ni Elisha. Ngumiti lang ako saka tumango sa kanya.

✦ ✦ ✦

The familiar façade of Medicus Civitas came into view as we arrived.

Sa entrance pa lang, sinalubong na kami ni Jia, ang assistant ni Geordane. Tahimik niya kaming inihatid papunta sa opisina ng kaibigan namin.

“Pasensya na po, Ma’am Blythe, Ma’am Elisha. May na-rush po kasing patient sa ER,” paliwanag ni Jia. “Maiwan ko na muna kayo rito at papunta na rin si Dra. Gutierrez,” dagdag pa nito.

“Okay lang, Jia. Salamat,” sagot ko, kahit ramdam ko na ang bigat ng bawat hakbang ko.

Naupo si Elisha sa sofa, pero ako, hindi ko maiwasang tumitig sa mga trophy at certificates na naka-display sa shelf cabinet. Lahat iyon ay patunay ng tagumpay ni Geordane bilang isang tanyag na doktor. Sa gitna ng mga iyon ay nakalagay ang solo portrait niya na nakasuot ng puting coat ng Medicus Civitas.

I felt proud of her.

Despite everything she had been through, Geordane had built herself into someone strong, respected, and successful. She deserved every achievement in this room.

“Na-miss niyo ba ako kaya niyo ako pinuntahan ngayon?”

Mula sa pintuan, lumitaw si Geordane. May nanunukso itong ngiti habang naglalakad papunta sa mesa niya.

Agad na napatingin si Elisha sa akin. Alam kong hinihintay niya akong magsalita, pero tila natuyo ang lalamunan ko.

Geordane’s gaze moved between us, her brow slowly knitting in confusion. “Bakit parang ang tahimik niyo?”

Napakagat-labi ako.

Ngayong narito na siya, biglang umurong ang dila ko. Pinagpapawisan ang mga palad ko kahit malamig ang aircon. 

My heartbeat is enough to break the deafening silence looming around Geordane’s office.

“Here…”

Biglang tumayo si Elisha at may kinuha sa bag niya.

Naguluhan ako noong una, pero nang makita ko ang bagay na inilapag niya sa mesa ni Geordane, tuluyang huminto ang mundo ko.

It was my pregnancy test kit.

Akala ko, naitapon ko na iyon kanina. Hindi ko na nga iyon makita kahit saan sa loob ng unit ko. Huli na nang mapagtanto kong binigay ko pala iyon kay Elisha at hindi ko na nabawi.

Geordane slowly picked up the HPT kit. I saw her expression shift as the truth sank in and left her momentarily speechless.

“Sa’yo ba ’to?” Baling niya kay Elisha.

Elisha chuckled sarcastically. “The last time I checked, iisang budhi pa kami ni Blessed Virgin Mary.”

Dahil doon, dahan-dahang lumipat ang tingin ni Geordane sa akin.

Nanatili akong tahimik. Hindi ko kayang tingnan nang diretso ang mga mata niya. Ang mga mata ng taong matagal nang nakakaalam kung gaano kalalim ang takot ko sa mga bagay na hindi ko kayang kontrolin.

“Blythe…” Mahinang tawag niya.

With a heavy heart, I finally looked at her.

“I am pregnant.”

Saying it out loud had made everything painfully real. 

My chest tightened, my hands trembled, and my heart raced as fear crept in. 

For a moment, nakatitig lang si Geordane sa akin na tila sinisigurado niyang hindi siya nagkakamali sa narinig.

“Kailan pa?” Mahinang tanong niya.

Ilang segundo akong napakagat-labi bago sumagot. “Hindi ako sigurado. Ngayon k-ko lang din kasi n-nalaman…”

Napaawang ang bibig ni Geordane. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. Lumingon pa siya kay Elisha para manghingi ng kumpirmasyon at tumango naman ito.

As our eyes met, we knew that we felt the same tension after I confirmed the truth to Geordane.

Geordane’s grip tightened around the test kit before loosening again. Umayos ito ng upo at humugot ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga.

“Alam na ba ni Bryce ’to?” tanong niya.

I shook my head. “Not yet… and you can’t tell him about this, G.”

Saglit akong tinitigan ni Geordane bago siya marahang tumango, her expression softening as she noticed the fear in my eyes. 

Napatango si Geordane. “Makaasa ka, Blythe.”

Sumilay ang munting ngiti sa labi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. 

Masaya ako na lubos akong naiintindihan ng mga kaibigan ko at hindi sila nangulit na magkuwento ako ng buong katotohanan tungkol sa kung paano ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon. 

“Thank you, Geordane. I owe you this one.”

She guided me toward the examination chair and began the prenatal check-up while Elisha settled into a nearby seat, busy watching YouTube videos on her phone.

I tried to focus on Geordane's instructions, but my thoughts kept drifting elsewhere. As she checked on my baby, I couldn't help wondering what it would have been like to have the father beside me, holding my hand and sharing this moment with me.

If only things had turned out differently.

The man who had given me this little life was also the man I wasn't ready to face.

Ang lalaking hindi ko pa handang pangalanan.

Ang lalaking hindi pa alam na may dala akong bahagi niya.

And as I listened to the steady beat of my baby's heart, one question lingered in my mind.

What would happen when the day finally came that I could no longer hide the truth from him?

After the check-up, Geordane gave me a few reminders before we gathered our things and prepared to leave her office.

We had barely reached the door when my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen and saw my secretary’s name on it.

“Yes, Kelly…” I answered.

[Miss Blythe, sorry to bother you, but we have a VIP client at the office right now…]

Nangunot ang aking noo sa sinabi niya. 

Sa pagkakaalam ko ay wala akong scheduled appointment sa mga kliyente at nagsabi na rin ako kanina kay Kelly na huwag munang tumanggap ng walk-in clients sa araw na ‘to.

[Actually, he has a scheduled appointment with you next week, but he arrived today without prior notice and is asking if you can accommodate him.]

“Did he explain what the meeting is all about?”

[Hindi po, Miss Blythe. Sinabi lang niya na gusto niyang sa personal kayo mag-usap.]

Saglit akong napalingon sa mga kaibigan ko na parehong may nagtatakang tingin sa akin.

“Kelly, you know I'm supposed to be taking the day off.”

[Yes, Miss. Naipaliwanag ko na rin po iyon, pero he insists on meeting you today. He's even willing to wait until you arrive.]

I sighed, rubbing my temple as exhaustion caught up with me. All I wanted was to go home, get some rest, and relax after the long day I’d had.

Pero hindi ko puwedeng tanggihan ang isang VIP client, lalo na kung may naka-schedule na appointment na ito kahit pa sabihing mas maaga nito gustong makipag-meeting sa akin. 

“Fine. I'll head to the office,” I finally said. “Please let him know I'll be there soon.”

[Of course, Miss. Thank you.]

Natapos ang tawag at ang tanging nagawa ko ay bumuntong-hininga at ngumiti para naman kahit paano ay gumaan at umaliwalas ang aking mukha.

“Akala ko ba magpapahinga ka muna ngayon?” taas-kilay na tanong sa akin ni Elisha.

“I was supposed to,” I replied, standing up. “But apparently, my day off will have to wait.”

Geordane gave me a concerned look. “Are you sure you're okay to work?”

I nodded, offering them a reassuring smile despite the exhaustion weighing on me.

“I'll be fine. I just need to take care of this one meeting. It’s a VIP.”

Nakalimutan ko pang itanong kay Kelly kung ano ang pangalan ng kliyente, pero hindi bale na at pupunta naman ako sa opisina. 

I still had no idea why the client had decided to show up a week before his scheduled appointment, but his insistence had piqued my curiosity.

Whoever he was, I hoped he’d bring luck and prosperity to my company.